Connector Device for a Telescoping Tent Pole

ABSTRACT

A connector device connects tent poles and includes a tubular member having an interior with an interior surface having a detent and a lower aperture for receiving a lower tent pole into the interior. A top member on the tubular member has an upper aperture for receiving an upper tent pole into the interior of the tubular member. The detent secures the lower tent pole to the tubular member in a snap-fit engagement and the upper pole is releasably lockable with the lower pole. Another connector device includes a tubular member having a longitudinal axis, and an outer surface having a tent fly fastener for fastening a tent fly, a slit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a fastener receptacle to receive a fastener oriented perpendicular to the slit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims foreign priority to China Application Nos.201320101781.4 and 201320101787.1, both filed on Mar. 6, 2013, which areincorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mechanism for connecting tent poles,and more particularly to a connector device for telescopicallyconnecting tent poles.

2. Description of Prior Art

Camping tents have evolved over the years to be more user-friendly. Oneof the features with constant improvement is the tent poles. Over theyears, designers have eliminated the need to separately assemble anddisassemble each pole section. This was first accomplished through theuse of a shock cord or elastic rope that runs through the tent poles,allowing the pole sections to stay together when folded and then snapback into place to assemble the pole.

More recently, instant tents—tents that are sold preassembled with thetent fabric connected to a foldable frame—have gained popularity becauseof the ease of folding and unfolding the tent. These tents require thateach pole section be collapsible with respect to an adjacent polesection either pivotally or telescopically, with the telescopicconnections usually located at lower portions of the poles. However,telescopic tent poles in prior art instant tents are often connectedtogether by complicated connection assemblies having numerous parts.Such connection assemblies are costly, time consuming to factoryassemble, and difficult and cumbersome to repair.

In addition, as with traditional tents, a tent fly or tent fly isdesired for instant tents to provide additional protection from theelements. The user of the instant tent is required to assemble the tentfly separately after the instant tent is unfolded for use anddisassemble the tent fly before folding the instant tent for storage.

Moreover, with shorter tent flies being the trend, the shorter tentflies are often connected to the fabric of the tent causing the fabricto stretch. Not only is the prior art tent fly connection aestheticallyunappealing but there is also the possibility of damage to the tentfabric as the tent fabric is subject to tension created by the tent fly.Thus, it would be desirable to connect the tent fly to the poles withoutadditional hardware.

It would be ideal to connect the shorter tent fly to a mid-portion ofthe poles where the telescopic pole connection assembly is located.However, telescopic pole connection assemblies of the prior art are notsuited for coupling other accessories such as a tent fly because theconnection assembly is unable to withstand the tension exerted by thetent fly, thus causing the connection assembly to disengage from thepole, making the pole unstable.

It would be further desirable to be able to fold and unfold the instanttent with the tent fly attached to the connection assembly so thatadditional assembly and disassembly of the tent fly would not berequired. Thus, a stable means is needed for holding a tent fly in placewhile a tent is folded and unfolded.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of theinvention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to presentsome embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple,convenient, and cost-effective connector device for connecting tentpoles together in a telescoping arrangement. For achieving theabove-mentioned object, the present invention provides a connectordevice for connecting tent poles with a tubular member having aninterior with an interior surface having a detent, and a lower aperturefor receiving a lower pole into the interior, and a top member on thetubular member having an upper aperture for receiving an upper pole intothe interior of the tubular member. The detent secures the lower pole tothe tubular member in a snap-fit engagement.

The lower pole may include a locking aperture which engages the detentin the snap-fit engagement. The interior surface may include a shapedprotrusion, and an end of the lower pole has a correspondingcomplementary shaped slot to match the shaped protrusion when the lowerpole is inserted into the interior of the tubular member, with theshaped protrusion being rectangular. The detent protrudes into theinterior. The upper pole may be locked into position with the lower poleby a push-button engagement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stable connectordevice for coupling accessories such as a tent fly. For achieving theabove-mentioned object, the present invention also provides a connectordevice for connecting tent poles with a tubular member having alongitudinal axis, and an outer surface having a tent fly fastener forfastening a tent fly, a slit extending parallel to the longitudinalaxis, and a fastener receptacle to receive a fastener orientedperpendicular to the slit, an interior with an interior surface having apair of detents, a lower aperture for receiving a lower pole into theinterior, and a top member on the tubular member having an upperaperture for receiving an upper pole into the interior of the tubularmember, with the pair of detents securing the lower pole to the tubularmember in a snap-fit engagement.

The lower pole includes a pair of locking apertures which engage thepair of detents in the snap-fit engagement. When the lower pole isinserted into the lower aperture, the slit expands until the pair ofdetents secure the lower pole to the tubular member in a snap-fitengagement, and the fastener is inserted and secured in the fastenerreceptacle to secure the lower pole in the tubular member. Accordingly,the tent pole connector device is able to withstand tension from thetent fly.

The tent fly fastener may be a hook-shaped member extending from theouter surface of the tubular member. The interior surface may include ashaped protrusion, and an end of the lower pole has a correspondingcomplementary shaped slot to match the shaped protrusion when the lowerpole is inserted into the interior of the tubular member. The shapedprotrusion may be rectangular. The pair of detents may be rigid. Theupper pole may be locked into position with the lower pole by apush-button engagement. When the lower and upper poles form a part of atent and are moved to fold or unfold the tent, the fastened tent fly isheld in place on the tent fly fastener. With the tent fly held in placeby a tent pole connector device, the tent pole connector device does notrequire the tent fly to be detached when the tent is folded andunfolded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofpresently preferred embodiments of the invention, will be betterunderstood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For thepurpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawingsembodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood,however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of telescoping poles connected bya connector device of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector device of FIG. 1 separatedfrom the lower pole;

FIG. 3 is a top side perspective view of the connector device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of the connector device and lowerpole;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector device and lowerpole;

FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the connector device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a front plan view of the connector device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the connector device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a top side perspective view of a second embodiment of aconnector device;

FIG. 10 is a side plan view of the connector device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the connector device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a front cross-sectional view of the connector device of FIG.9;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the connector device of FIG. 9connecting a pair of poles and a tent fly; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the components of FIG. 13 with partsseparated.

To facilitate an understanding of the invention, identical referencenumerals have been used, when appropriate, to designate the same orsimilar elements that are common to the figures. Further, unless statedotherwise, the features shown in the figures are not drawn to scale, butare shown for illustrative purposes only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenienceonly and is not limiting. The article “a” is intended to include one ormore items, and where only one item is intended the term “one” orsimilar language is used. Additionally, to assist in the description ofthe present invention, words such as top, bottom, upper, lower, front,rear, inner, outer, right and left are used to describe the accompanyingfigures. The terminology includes the words above specificallymentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a connector device 1′ for a telescoping tentpole in a first embodiment of the present invention is shown, in whichthe connector device 1′ includes a tubular member having an interiorwith an interior surface having at least one detent 11′ and a loweraperture for receiving a lower pole 2′ into the interior. A top memberon the tubular member has an upper aperture for receiving an upper pole5′ into the interior of the tubular member. The connector device 1′ ispreferably manufactured by plastic injection molding and is one integralpiece.

In the present embodiment, the lower pole 2′ is tubular steel having acircular cross-section and the upper pole 5′ is tubular steel having agenerally semi-circular cross-section. The upper pole 5′ is sized suchthat it telescopes within the lower pole 2′, and the upper and lowerapertures of the connector device 1′ are respectively sized and shapedfor the same. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that theupper and lower poles 5′, 2′ could take on other shapes and sizes, forexample, both with circular cross-sections and/or the upper pole havinga larger cross-sectional area than the lower pole so that the lower poletelescopes within the upper pole. Similarly, the upper and lowerapertures of the connector device 1′ could be sized and shapedaccordingly.

As shown in FIGS. 2-8, the lower pole 2′ may include at least onelocking aperture 21′ which engages the detents 11′ in the snap-fitengagement. Preferably, the lower pole 2′ includes a pair of lockingapertures 21′ on diametrically opposite sides of the end of the lowerpole 2′.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the upper pole 5′ may be locked into positionwith the lower pole 2′ and retracted within the lower pole 2′ by apush-button engagement with a push button 100′ extending through anaperture 110′ in the lower pole 2′. The push button 100′ and associatedspring clip and plug may be included in the upper pole 5′.

Referring to FIG. 4, the detent 11′ of the connector device 1′ protrudesinto the interior of the connector device 1′ and secures the lower pole2′ to the tubular member in a snap-fit engagement. The detent 11′ ispositioned on a resilient member 111′ formed by three cut-outs so thatin a relaxed state an outer surface of the resilient member 111′ issubstantially aligned with an outer surface of the connector device 1′(i.e., when the detents 11′ are secured within the locking apertures 21′as shown in FIG. 4), and in an engaged state the outer surface of theresilient member 111′ extends radially outwardly beyond the outersurface of the connector device 1′ (i.e., when the detent 11′ contactsan outer surface of the lower pole 2′ as the connector device 1′ isbeing assembled onto the lower pole 2′; not shown).

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 8, to enhance the stability ofthe locking of lower pole 2′ in the connector device 1′ (e.g., tofurther prevent the connector device 1 from rotating on lower pole 2),the interior surface of the connector device 1′ may include a shapedprotrusion 19′, and the end of the lower pole 2′ may have acorresponding complementary shaped slot 22′ to match the shapedprotrusion 19′ when the lower pole 2′ is inserted into the interior ofthe tubular member, with the shaped protrusion 19′ being, for example,rectangular to match the rectangular shape of the slot 22′. Thus, theconnector device 1′ shown in FIGS. 1-8 provides a simple andcost-effective means for securely connecting two telescoping tubularpoles 2′, 5′.

Referring to FIGS. 9-14, in a second embodiment of the presentinvention, a connector device 1 for connecting a telescoping tent poleas well as for securing a tent fly 3 is shown. The connector device 1 ispreferably constructed by injection molding plastic into one integralcomponent. The interior of the connector device 1 has an interiorsurface having a pair of detents 11 extending laterally therefrom; alower aperture for receiving a lower pole 2 into the interior; and a topmember on the tubular member has an upper aperture for receiving anupper pole 5 into the interior of the tubular member. A longitudinalaxis extends through the upper and lower apertures of the tubular membersubstantially parallel to the interior of the connector device 1. Also,the configuration of the upper and lower poles 5, 2 are substantiallyidentical to the upper and lower poles 5′, 2′ described above.

Still referring to FIGS. 9-14, an outer surface of the connector device1 includes a tent fly fastener 15 for securing the tent fly 3. As shownin the figures, the tent fly fastener 15 may be a hook-shaped memberextending from the outer surface of the tubular member and adapted toreceive the tent fly 3 but could take on other shapes and sizes. It ispreferred that the connector device 1 be constructed in a manner that afree end of the tent fly fastener 15 is positioned close to the outersurface of the connector device 1 so that the tent fly 3 is well-securedto the tent fly fastener 15 while being resilient so that the tent fly 3could be removed if needed.

As shown in FIGS. 9-12, opposite the tent fly fastener 15 is a slit 12extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. A fastener receptacle 131is formed by a pair of fastener mounts 13 on respective sides of theslit 12 to receive a fastener 14 oriented perpendicular to the slit 12.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the lower pole 2 includes a pair oflocking apertures 21 on diametrically opposite sides of the end of thelower pole 2, which engage the pair of detents 11 in snap-fitengagement. Preferably, the detents 11 are rigid. When the lower pole 2is inserted into the lower aperture of the connector device 1, the slit12 expands due to the detents 11 engaging an outer surface of the lowerpole 2, and thus the connector device 1 expands, until the pair ofdetents 11 are secured within the locking apertures 21 of the lower pole2 in a snap-fit engagement. The fastener 14 is then inserted and securedin the fastener receptacle 131, formed by the pair of fastener mounts13, to secure the lower pole 2 in the tubular member. Accordingly, asshown in FIG. 13, attachment of a tent fly 3 to the tent pole connectordevice 1 at the tent fly fastener 15, in conjunction with the fastener14 in the fastener receptacle 131, does not affect the security of theconnection device 1 despite tension to the connector device 1 from thetent fly 3.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 14, to enhance the stability of the locking oflower pole 2 in the connector device 1 (e.g., to further prevent theconnector device 1 from rotating on lower pole 2), the interior surfaceof the connector device 1 may include a shaped protrusion 19, and theend of the lower pole 2 may have a corresponding complementary shapedslot 22 to match the shaped protrusion 19 when the lower pole 2 isinserted into the interior of the tubular member 1, with the shapedprotrusion 19 being, for example, rectangular to match the rectangularshape of the slot 22. However, the shaped protrusion could have othershapes and sizes with the shaped slot having other matching shapes andsizes corresponding to the shaped protrusion.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 13-14, the upper pole 5 may be lockedinto position with the lower pole 2 and retracted within the lower pole2 by a push-button engagement with a push button 100 extending throughan aperture 110 in the lower pole 2. The push button 100 and associatedspring clip and plug may be included in the upper pole 5.

In this embodiment, the lower pole 2 and upper pole 5 form a part of atent and are moved to fold or unfold the tent with the fastened tent fly3 held in place on the tent fly fastener 15 of the connector device 1.With the tent fly 3 held in place by the connector device 1, theconnector device 1 does not require the tent fly 3 to be detached whenthe tent is folded and unfolded. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 9-14, theconnector device 1 of the second embodiment provides a stable means forholding the tent fly 3 in place, as shown in FIG. 13, while a tent isfolded and unfolded.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A connector device for connecting tent poles comprising: a tubularmember having: an interior with an interior surface having a detent; anda lower aperture for receiving a lower tent pole into the interior; anda top member on the tubular member having an upper aperture forreceiving an upper tent pole into the interior of the tubular member;wherein the detent secures the lower tent pole to the tubular member ina snap-fit engagement.
 2. The connector device of claim 1, wherein thelower tent pole includes a locking aperture which engages the detent inthe snap-fit engagement.
 3. The connector device of claim 1, wherein theinterior surface includes a shaped protrusion; and wherein an end of thelower tent pole has a corresponding complementary shaped slot to matchthe shaped protrusion when the lower tent pole is inserted into theinterior of the tubular member.
 4. The connector device of claim 3,wherein the shaped protrusion is rectangular.
 5. The connector device ofclaim 1, wherein the detent protrudes into the interior.
 6. Theconnector device of claim 1, wherein the upper tent pole is locked intoposition with the lower tent pole by a push-button engagement.
 7. Aconnector device for connecting tent poles comprising: a tubular memberhaving: an interior with an interior surface having a pair of resilientdetents; and a lower aperture for receiving a lower tent pole into theinterior; and a top member on the tubular member having an upperaperture for receiving an upper tent pole into the interior of thetubular member; wherein the pair of resilient detents secure the lowertent pole to the tubular member in a snap-fit engagement.
 8. Theconnector device of claim 7, wherein the lower tent pole includeslocking apertures which engage the resilient detents in the snap-fitengagement.
 9. The connector device of claim 7, wherein the interiorsurface includes a shaped protrusion; and wherein an end of the lowertent pole has a corresponding complementary shaped slot to match theshaped protrusion when the lower tent pole is inserted into the interiorof the tubular member.
 10. The connector device of claim 9, wherein theshaped protrusion is rectangular.
 11. The connector device of claim 10,wherein the upper tent pole is locked into position with the lower tentpole by a push-button engagement.
 12. A connector device for connectingtent poles of a tent comprising: a tubular member having a longitudinalaxis; and an outer surface having: a tent fly fastener for fastening atent fly; a slit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis; and afastener receptacle to receive a fastener oriented perpendicular to theslit; an interior with an interior surface having a pair of detents; alower aperture for receiving a lower tent pole into the interior; and atop member on the tubular member having an upper aperture for receivingan upper tent pole into the interior of the tubular member; wherein thepair of detents secure the lower tent pole to the tubular member in asnap-fit engagement.
 13. The connector device of claim 12, wherein thelower tent pole includes a pair of locking apertures which engage thepair of detents in the snap-fit engagement.
 14. The connector device ofclaim 12, wherein when the lower pole is inserted into the loweraperture, the slit expands until the pair of detents secure the lowertent pole to the tubular member in a snap-fit engagement, and thefastener is inserted and secured in the fastener receptacle to securethe lower pole in the tubular member.
 15. The connector device of claim12, wherein the tent fly fastener is a hook-shaped member extending fromthe outer surface of the tubular member.
 16. The connector device ofclaim 12, wherein the interior surface includes a shaped protrusion; andwherein an end of the lower tent pole has a corresponding complementaryshaped slot to match the shaped protrusion when the lower tent pole isinserted into the interior of the tubular member.
 17. The connectordevice of claim 16, wherein the shaped protrusion is rectangular. 18.The connector device of claim 12, wherein the pair of detents are rigid.19. The connector device of claim 12, wherein the upper tent pole islocked into position with the lower tent pole by a push-buttonengagement.
 20. The connector device of claim 12, wherein when the lowerand upper poles form a part of a tent and are moved to fold or unfoldthe tent, the fastened tent fly is held in place on the tent flyfastener.